Following Wan Chai's aggressive action against sex es- tablishments, five important vice premises in North Point and Causeway Bay were closed down. One or two small establishments still exist, but they fail to attract a significant number of triad and criminal personalities.
Illegal off-course betting which existed on a large scale throughout Eastern was seriously disrupted by police operations and, towards the end of the year, there were indications that the amount of business conducted had been reduced significantly.
Dangerous drugs remained a problem in Shau Kei Wan and Chai Wan sub-divisions. There was at least one per- manent syndicate operating in each of these sub-divisions and police efforts have so far succeeded only in arresting and convicting a number of low to middle level sellers. This remains an important priority for 1977.
A review of serious and violent crime in Eastern resulted in a radical adjustment of the traditional three-shift struc- ture to a staggered system. This moved large bodies of Uniform Branch officers from periods of low crime activity to periods of high activity, including auxiliary police in support. Results were encouraging and the system is now working satisfactorily in North Point and Causeway Bay and will be introduced soon to Shau Kei Wan.
Two disasters struck in 1976. In February a fire occurred in Aldrich Bay, Shau Kei Wan, in which 3,100 people were made homeless; they were eventually rehoused in Hing Wah Estate in Chai Wan. In August torrential rains caused landslides at hillside villages in Shau Kei Wan. Four people were killed and a number of houses collapsed.
Two neighbourhood policing units were formed in the early part of the year one in Lai Tak Tsuen in January and the other in Hing Wah Estate, Chai Wan, in February. Relations with Kaifongs and Mutual Aid Committees were improved through more frequent contact at all levels and a District Fight Violent Crime Committee was formed in November.
Rural Area Patrol
The urban areas of Hong Kong Island occupy about 10 per cent of the total land mass. The remaining isolated residential locations, popular recreational areas and almost inaccessible wood-covered hillside have in the past received little police coverage.
To provide better policing of these rural areas used for recreation, the Rural Area Patrol (RAP) was formed in May from volunteers selected from formations throughout the district.
Before the RAP began its operations, officers received basic training at the Village Patrol Unit in the New Terri- tories and at the Police Cadet School. They were instructed in map reading, first aid and communications and spent a large proportion of the time in hill-walking to improve their physical fitness and to familiarise themselves with the rural
areas.
Their 'beat' has been divided into five major areas and, although recreational activities are not spread evenly, patrols are deployed for a large proportion of the time at locations where these activities are most prevalent.
Traffic
Traffic continued to pose problems. However, the flow generally moved smoothly despite occasional temporary congestion caused by major road works and landslides during severe tropical storm Ellen in August; the seasonal congestion on routes to the beaches; and sports fans travelling in thousands to and from football matches and horse racing. With expertise gained over the years, officers from Traffic Division, Hong Kong Island, dealt with situations extremely well.
Major roadworks in Central in the construction of the mass transit railway had a considerable effect on traffic. Close liaison between the Police, other government depart- ments and the mass transit authorities allowed a restricted flow of traffic to be maintained. Disruption of traffic flow must be expected to increase in 1977 with the progress of works and the demolition of several large buildings. In anticipation of this situation, Des Voeux Road Central was closed between Bank Street and Queen Victoria Street to all vehicles except buses, trams and a few permit holders. Fatal traffic accidents and those resulting in injury slightly increased overall from a total of 3,519 in 1975 to 3,844 in 1976, although the number of fatal accidents remained the same at 75. This was despite a major road safety campaign in September aimed at pedestrian safety.
Emphasis was placed on enforcement in the more serious offences and the fixed penalty moving offences ticket system, introduced in November, was an undoubted benefit in the administrative handling of such offences.
New equipment planned, such as the Hartridge Smoke- meter and portable weighbridges, together with improved. vehicle inspection procedures, will help in the fight against environmental pollution and will assist in maintaining a higher standard of safety in the loading of vehicles.
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